01 April 2011, Kochi, Kerala:
Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil (84), Major
Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church passed away at
Lisie Hospital, here at 02.00 PM due to cardiac
arrest. Cardinal Varkey Vithaythil faced a major
cardiac illness while celebrating Holy Qurbono
at Aramana Chapel at Mount St. Thomas, the Head
Quarters of Syro Malabar Church. His mortal
remains will be kept at Little Flower Hospital,
Ankamali. The funeral will be held probably on
April 10, Sunday, at St. Mary's Basalica,
Ernakulam, as the Bishops of Syro Malabar Church
are in Vatican to meet His Holiness Pope
Benedict XVI. His Beatitude Cardinal was the
Archbishop of Ernakulam - Ankamali Archdiocese
of Syro Malabar Church, and former chairman of
Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI).
Bishop of Curia, Dr. Bosco Puthoor is appointed
temporarily as the Apostolic Administrator of
the church by His Holiness Pope.